Xinping Nisu in China

The Xinping Nisu have only been reported in China
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

Different Yi groups, including the Xinping Nisu, have developed their own identity and customs after centuries of isolation from each other.

Although the Xinping Nisu are officially included as part of the Yi nationality, they wear different dress, speak a distinct dialect from all other Yi groups and possess their own self-identity. The Chinese call this group Huayao Yi (Flower Belt Yi) in reference to the clothing worn by the women. The Xinping Nisu in some areas call themselves Tuli, but they speak the same dialect as other Xinping Nisu.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Unmarried Xinping Nisu women wear gorgeous cockscomb hats made of wool tassels and silver bubbles. A legend states that there were once two Nisu villages in the Honghe area that were constantly harassed by an evil spirit. The demon was defeated by magic when a rooster crowed. Of the many festivals observed by the Nisu in Yunnan, the one that takes place on the slopes of the Mopan Mountain in Xinping County is considered the greatest. When a Nisu girl turns 15 or 16 she is said to have entered the "springtime" of her life. When this time has come, her family sends her into the mountains with a selected boy from her village. The two pick a selection of beautiful flowers and grass and return home. The girl arranges a large structure of flowers on the roof of her house. When she has finished, her mother places a special headdress on her head and jewelry on her wrists. She also adorns herself with necklaces and earrings and wears a special belt around her waist. Then her family and friends hold a ceremony where they drink wine and sing the following song: "Springtime has come to the mountains, The flowers are opening, and the birds are beautiful on the hills; The young birds are flying away from their nests. Springtime has come to this young maiden; she has blossomed and is beautiful; She too must leave her old home."


What Are Their Beliefs?

Roosters are held in great reverence and are even worshiped by the Xinping Nisu. They also believe the spirits of dragons and the ox can protect them.

Although an attempt by the China Inland Mission to reach the Tuli (a subgroup of the Xinping Nisu) apparently ended in failure, there are a few known Xinping Nisu Christians in Yuanjiang County today.


What Are Their Needs?

The Xinping Nisu need to understand they desperately need a savior; they can’t make it on their own.


Prayer Points

Pray for spiritual hunger among non-believers that will open this animistic people to the gospel.
Pray that the spirits will be bound so they no longer keep the people from Jesus.
Pray the few believers will witness to their families and neighbors.
Pray family and neighbors will be open to such witness.


Scripture Prayers for the Nisu, Xinping in China.


References

Operation China, Asia Harvest, Copyrighted © Used with permission.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Nisu, Xinping
People Name in Country Nisu, Xinping
Natural Name Xinping Nisu
Pronunciation Shin-ping Nee-soo
Alternate Names Flowery Belt Yi; Flowery Waist Yi; Hua Yao Yi; Huayao Yi; Neisu; Niesu; Nisu; Nisupuo; Tuli; Tuli Yi; Tuly
Population this Country 257,000
Population all Countries 257,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group No
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
PeopleID3 18637
ROP3 Code 114258
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country More than 190,000 speakers of Xinping Nisu live in Xinping, Yuxi, Eshan, Yuanjiang, Jiangchuan, and Yimen counties of Yuxi Prefecture (143,400); Anning and Jinning Counties of Kunming Municipality (18,000); and Shiping County in Honghe Prefecture (31,000). These locations are all within China's Yunnan Province.   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Country China
Region Asia, Northeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 19  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country More than 190,000 speakers of Xinping Nisu live in Xinping, Yuxi, Eshan, Yuanjiang, Jiangchuan, and Yimen counties of Yuxi Prefecture (143,400); Anning and Jinning Counties of Kunming Municipality (18,000); and Shiping County in Honghe Prefecture (31,000). These locations are all within China's Yunnan Province..   Source:  Operation China, 2000
Map of Nisu, Xinping in China Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Ethnic Religions
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.51 %)
1.00 %
Ethnic Religions
93.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
6.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Nisu, Northern (257,000 speakers)
Language Code yiv   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Nisu, Northern (257,000 speakers)
Language Code yiv   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Nisu, Northern

Primary Language:  Nisu, Northern

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2024)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Film / Video Jesus film: view in Nisu, Northern Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Operation China, Asia Harvest  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group location: SIL / WLMS. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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